The Most Important Factor In Creating Curb Appeal
Features DaVinci Multi-Width Slate Weathered Green
We have all heard the expression, “don’t judge a book by the cover.” It’s a phrase that means you shouldn’t prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. However, this principle doesn’t hold when it comes to your home.
Whether someone is just strolling by or actively looking at your home as a potential purchase, they make a snap judgment about your home by its outward appearance. Most real estate agents say that most buyers decide whether or not they will even look inside a home based on how it looks on the outside. The National Association of Realtors states that “curb appeal” sells 49 percent of all houses.
As a homeowner, you cannot control every aspect of what surrounds your home. Things like the condition of your neighbors’ houses or yards can affect the curb appeal of your own home. But there are many things you can and should take charge of to make your exterior intriguing enough to entice someone to want to come inside. You can find a list of those things in my last blog post, How To Give Your Home Personality.
Of all the things specifically mentioned that you can do to increase your home’s curb appeal, the one I consider most important might surprise you. It is that the entire exterior has a cohesive look. Just as creating harmony is essential to having a beautiful interior, this same idea is of utmost importance on the outside, too.
No single factor, including a luxury synthetic shake or slate roof, can stand alone to create curb appeal. The marriage of design, colors, and materials is key to giving your home maximum curb appeal!
As you assess your home’s exterior, look at the five areas I focus on with my FRESH approach to selecting color and materials for your home:
- Fixed features include items such as your foundation, roofing, brick or stone features, etc. Look at the fixed features of the home, and more than likely, you’ll begin to see some repetition of color tones, which allows different materials and textures to work well together.
- Regional color preferences come from a blend of the region’s natural characteristics — climate, topography, landscape, and quality of the natural light — together with the area’s housing styles, available materials, and cultural history.
- Environment and surroundings can help you to determine colors for a home that fits into the overall look of the buildings in the area or the natural surroundings.
- A home’s architectural style is the next part of the color equation to consider. You want your color scheme to fit the design of your home.
- Even in new homes, historic colors that have stood the test of time can inspire its color schemes, styles, and elements.
Looking for additional inspiration? Download FRESH Home Exterior Colors: 5 Steps for Finding the Perfect Hues for Your Home.
This step-by-step guide shows you exactly what you need to know to create a cohesive look and achieve maximum curb appeal.
About the Author
Kate Smith is an internationally recognized color expert, consultant, and designer. She is a skilled colorist & a color consultant who has lent her expertise to DaVinci Roofscapes for over a decade. Kate helps YOU select colors that you will love.